Many people are still missing following the devastating fire that broke out at a garment factory and its opposite side “Sorkar Chemical” warehouse in the Shialbari area of Mirpur’s Rupnagar Residential area of the capital.

Relatives of the missing persons crowded the road beside the place of fire incident, many seen wailing in distress.

Authorities repeatedly urged people through loudspeakers not to gather at the site and instead visit the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue and emergency department to search for their loved ones.

Despite repeated announcements on Tuesday night, large crowds continued to gather near the scene.

Sanowar Hossain, who worked on the third floor of the garment factory, remains missing. His brother, Ruhul, said Sanowar is from Mymensingh district.

Ruhul said he called his brother repeatedly since learning about the fire after 11:30 am, but though the phone kept ringing, no one answered.

Death toll rises to 16 in Mirpur factory and chemical warehouse fire

Many others, like Ruhul, rushed to the spot in search of their relatives.

According to the Fire Service, the blaze started around 11:40 am on Tuesday. The first unit arrived at 11:56 am, and five units initially began efforts to control the fire before seven more joined in.

As in previous fire incidents, hundreds of curious onlookers gathered at the site, causing difficulties for law enforcement agencies. Members of the army, police, RAB, and BGB were deployed to manage the crowd.

The Fire Service later confirmed that 16 bodies were recovered from the second and third floors of the garments factory and sent to the DMCH morgue.